MLB Rumors

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is expected to miss Wednesday's game against San Diego due to a sprained index and middle finger on his right hand, CSN San Francisco reports.

Crawford was unabled to grip a ball following the injury. The shortstop may be able to return Thursday in the series opener against Miami. Consider him day to day for now.

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton had a frustrating game at the plate Tuesday against the Mariners. Hamilton, who is batting .213, grounded into three double plays and struck out twice.

"It's been tough,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, per the Los Angeles Times. "I don't think anyone feels this more than Josh, and I don't think there's anyone more confident in his ability than Josh. He's been working very hard in drills, hopefully making strides and getting there. He takes his lack of production very hard, very seriously."

Hamilton is batting .200 (11 for 55) with two home runs, six doubles, six RBI, 11 runs and 12 strikeouts in his last 12 games.

Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles improved to 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his last seven starts following Tuesday's 10-1 rout of the Brewers. Lyles hasn't allowed more than two runs in seven straight starts, lowering his ERA from 8.36 to 3.22.

"I'm the same guy," Lyles said, per MLB.com, "just different results. I don't know what to say about me. Just making quality pitches.""

Lyles has gone seven innings in three straight starts and four times in his last five appearances.

"I tell you, he's had some impressive outings," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "I was actually even more impressed with him being able to go seven innings, and it didn't look from the dugout like he had his best stuff. That was a great example of the maturity taking place with Jordan Lyles. He grinded his way through seven innings, which is good to see."

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander dropped to 4-3 with a 5.91 ERA in his last eight starts after Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Orioles, in which he allowed five runs in five innings. Like the rest of the baseball world, Verlander is well aware he's not pitching up to standards.

"It’s been a battle so far," Verlander said, per MLB.com. "Obviously, you have that stretch of three or four starts where it was pretty frustrating. You know, I guess I’m always trying to get better, and I feel like I’ve made adjustments to get to that point.

"I feel like I’ve been getting better, better, and better. That’s not necessarily going to work towards a perfect game, but you’re not going to get better every time. There’s ups and downs, peaks and valleys, (Tuesday) was just one of those nights where two long balls hurt me. You know who knows what happens if I’m able to execute those pitches a little bit better. I’m not saying that I regressed, it’s just one of those games. This is Major League Baseball, you’re not going to be perfect every time."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura feels Dayan Viciedo's three-run triple Monday against the Astros could be exactly what the 24-year-old slugger needs to break out of his prolonged slump. Viciedo is batting .160 in his last 26 games, dropping his season average from .303 to .224.

"It's always good team-wise when you get a big hit, but that one for him, I think, with how his last couple weeks have been going, it's a big one for him just to kind of get that going -- to do something meaningful,"Ventura said, per MLB.com.

Ventura is stressing patience with Viciedo, who he considers to have a high ceiling.

"I think what you're looking at right now, that's not indicative of his talent," Ventura said. "Again, you just continue to understand he is young and it's getting better."

Pirates outfielder Starling Marte knocked a pair of hits in Tuesday's win over Cincinnati.

Marte finished 2 for 5 with a single, a triple, a run scored, an RBI, his 21st stolen base, and three strikeouts. He's hitting a sharp .284/.349/.421, but 22.5 percent of his plate appearances have ended in a strikeout.

Marte may have enough speed to maintain such a good batting average despite the strikeouts, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him drop off over the rest of the season if he doesn't improve his contact rate.

Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello heads to the mound Wednesday against the Orioles having gone 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA and .212 opponents' batting average in his last nine starts. Porcello also has 56 strikeouts to 10 walks in 57 innings during that span.

Porcello credits his success this season to throwing his breaking ball for strikes and using his changeup effectively.

"My offspeed stuff is getting a lot better, so I'm going to continue to get breaking pitches over the plate and switch up my pitches," Porcello said, per MLB.com. "That's what's helping me this year have some success."

Orioles reliever Troy Patton threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in his last outing Monday against the Tigers, extending his scoreless streak to four appearances (five innings). After allowing at least one run in four straight appearances from May 17-28, Patton has posted a 1.93 ERA in his last seven outings.

"I feel like once the walks have subsided then the results have been better in general," Patton said, per MLB.com. "I've still given up runs since I've stopped walking people, but it's so much easier to minimize damage whenever they have to earn their way on."

Patton has struck out 10 batters and issued one walk in his last 9 1/3 innings. He had more walks (12) than strikeouts (11) in his first 20 appearances.

Orioles starting pitcher prospect Dylan Bundy (forearm) will throw off flat ground again Wednesday after taking Tuesday off. He threw from 90 feet Monday without any discomfort or stiffness in his right forearm, according to MASNsports.com.

"I've been watching him play catch. He's feeling fine," Orioles pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor said. "He's not feeling anything in there. Obviously, we're taking it with kid gloves with him, but he looked fine throwing. It's an every other day thing with him. We're just increasing his reps. The same old process. Nothing changes with that."

Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (oblique) is scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, according to MASNsports.com. Chen had bullpen sessions Sunday and Monday, and he was able to throw all his pitches during a 45-pitch session Monday.

"He looks good. He's coming right along. He's right on track," said Scott McGregor, the Orioles' pitching rehab coordinator. "He's still a little rusty with his command, a little bit, but he's had no ill effects from the (oblique) injury. He's coming along good. He's worked really hard. Obviously, he wants to get back at it, but he understands the process."